Velocipede



Aug. 13, 1935. J w, GALLO 2,o1.1,4o2

I VELOCIPEDE Filed Feb. 20. 1954 27\ 2% 28': i i f-22 28 b i i 26 Jaan ll-[x/ Er'lu'r- ,v of the machine so Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED sTA'n-:s

PATENT OFFICE VELOCIPEDE John W. Gallo, Revere, Mass. Application February 20, 1934, Serial No. 712,232 3- Cllms. (C1. 208-113) My invention relates to velocipedes and it has for its object to provide a convertible velocipede which can be used either as a bicycle or a' tricycle.

To these ends my invention consists of a velocipede having three rear wheels arranged transversely side by' side connected with the frame that the two outside wheels can be used to the exclusion of the intermediate wheel, or the intermediate wheel may be used to the exclusion of the two outside wheels, so that it can be readily converted from a bicycle into a tricycle and vice versa.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawingz- Figure l is a side elevation of a velocipede constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the frame and the three rear Wheels.

Figure 3 is a detail of the intermediate wheel and its yoke hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a detail hereinafter described.

The embodiment of my invention herein illustrated comprises a main frame |0 whose forward end is constructed with a socket within which is rotatably mounted a shank |2 of a front fork |3. The shank |2 of foi'k |3 is provided at its upper end with a head |4 equipped with a pair of handle bars |5. A relatively large front wheel '|6 has its axle |1 journaled in bearings at the lower ends of the arms of the fork |3. This axle is provided with crank pedals |8, by means of which the user propels the vehicle over the ground.

Intermediate its ends the main frame |0 is provided with a seat |9 for the user.

So far as above described the construction is as usual.

The rear end portion of the main frame |0 is made with a rearwardly extending fork 20 eachv arm of which is itself forked as at 2|.

Each fork 2| includes as an integral part thereof an axle 22 on which is rotatably mounted a rear side wheel 23.

The inner arms of the forks 2| are straight and parallel with respect to each other and with respect to the vertical-median plane of the structure. These two inner arms of the forks 2| are spaced apart to provide a space for an intermediate wheel 24 which is disposed midway between the Wheels 23 and within said Vertical median plane. The intermediate wheel 24 mounted on a short axle 25 to each end of which isv fixed a sleeve or hub 20 constructed with is loosely an integral stem 21 which is telescopically and slidably mounted within the straight inner arm of one of the forks 2|. Each stem 21 is made with two apertures 28 and 29, while the inner straight arm of each fork 2| is formed with a 5 hole 3| through it near the lower end thereof. The yoke comprising axle 25, sleeves 26 and stems 21 is adjustable relatively to the forks 2| of the frarriefxidoward and from the ground by sliding the stems 21 within the inner straight 10 arms of forks 2|. Normally, however, this'yoke is locked against movement relatively to frame |0 by means of two screws 30. The inner straight arm of each fork 2| is formed at its top and bottom and near the lower end of said arm, with 15 aligned apertures 3| .to receive one of the pins 30 as shown in Figure 4, one of said holes being i threaded for engagement with its screw 30.

It will thus be clear that the pins 30 can be utilized to rigidly hold the yoke of the inter- 20 mediate wheel 24. against movement relatively to frame |0 by inserting said pins within the apertures 3| so that they extend through either the holes 28, or the holes 29, of stems 21.

When the yoke 'of intermediate wheel 24 oc--23 cupies its most elevated position the holes 23 of its yoke are in register with the apertures 3| of the forks 2| so that when the pins are within said apertures and holes the yoke of wheel 2| is locked in its elevated position and the vehicle 30 is usable as a tricycle since it will then be supported by the front wheel IS and the two rear side Wheels 23.

When it is desired to use the vehicle as a bicycle the pins 30 are withdrawn and the yoke' of 35 the intermediate wheel 24 is pulled downwardly until the holes 29 of stems 21 are in register with the apertures 3| of the yokes 2|, whereupon the pins 30 are replaced so as to extend through the apertures 3| and said holes 29. When the in-`4 termediate wheel is thus locked in its lowermost position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, its ground engaging tread portion is below the bottoms of the side Wheels 23 and the rear end of the frame |0 is supported entirely by said inter- 45 mediate wheel while the front end of the frame is supported by the dirigible front wheel IB.

The above described velocipede is of very simple and inexpensive construction and it can, with w convenience and dispatch, be converted from a bicycle to a tricycle, or vice versa.

To -those familiar with this art it will be clear that the frame |0, particularly the forked rear end portion thereof, excepting the axles 22 and 5% 25, may be made up from lengths of metal tubing brazed or otherwise fastened together.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame; a single dirigible front wheel adjustably connected With said frame; three rear Wheels disposed side by side, including an intermediate Wheel; mechanism connecting said intermediate wheel with said frame so that it can be adjusted independently toward the ground to an cxtent suificientto elevate the two side Wheels above the ground without adjustment of said side Wheels relatively to said frame so as to provide a bicycle and also so that said intermediate wheel can be adjusted away from and out of engagement with the ground thereby to transfer the support of said frame to said side Wheels and provide a tricycle.

2. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame and three rear frame-supporting Wheels including two side Wheels and an intermediate wheel disposed between said side Wheels; a yoke on which said intermediate wheel is journaled, said yoke being slidably connected with said frame so as to be adjusted Independently toward and from the ground thereby to transfer the support of said frame from said side Wheels to said intermediate wheel without changing the relative posltions of said side Wheels and frame and vice versa, and means for fixing said yoke at the limit of its movement in either direction relatively to said frame.

3. A vehicle of the Character described constructed in accordance with claim 2 Wherein said frame is made with a fork at its rear end including two parallel spaced apart tubular arms between which said intermediate wheel is disposed; wherein said yoke includes a transversely disposed axle for said intermediate Wheel and a pair of stems connected with the opposite ends of said axle, said stems being telescopically and adjustably fitted within said tubular arms so that said yoke and intermediate wheel are movable toward and from the ground, and means for fastening said stems in position within said tubular arms at the limit of their endwise movement in either direction.

- JOHN W. GALLO. 

